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Touched By Lightning
In the weeks leading to the invasion of Normandy, American
fighter pilots of the U.S. Eighth and Ninth Air Forces found themselves
participating more and more in the ground attack role, as communications links
throughout the Continent needed to be severed. Typical targets included railroad
bridges, stations and trains, supply dumps and motor vehicles. Not wanting to
concentrate their attacks on one area and reveal their invasion plans, the
Allies flew missions across the breadth of France, Germany and the Low
Countries. Destroying these targets didn't provide Allied pilots the prestige
that came with downing another pilot in aerial combat, but ground attacks were
just as important, and equally as dangerous.
Captain Cy Coenen of the 402nd Fighter Squadron, found
out just how hazardous ground attacks could be, on May 23, 1944. While attacking
a German train near Koblenz, Germany, his P-38 Lightning was hit by ground fire.
While he was able to pilot his ship home to England, he was forced to crash-land
with hydraulic damage at Southend.
This dramatic portrayal of the event, 'Touched by
Lightning,' depicts Captain Coenen and his wingman immediately after their
attack on the train. While boxcars full of ammunition provide a satisfactory
explosion behind them, the low altitude at which the P-38's are flying has
seriously exposed them to German anti-aircraft fire.
Print Information:
Overall Size: 34" x 24"
Main numbers: 1 to 500, with ONE co-signature, $145
50 Artist Proofs, with ONE co-signature, $175
50 Special Edition, with ONE co-signature (remarqued), $265
